What It Is
A strainer basket is the metal or plastic cup that sits right inside your kitchen sink drain. It catches food scraps and debris before they can clog your plumbing pipes. You can easily lift it out to dump the waste into your trash can. The word strainer comes from the Latin word stringere, meaning to bind or draw tight. Plumbers added the basket design in the early twentieth century to protect narrow indoor drain lines. It usually has a small post or knob in the middle. You push this post down to plug the sink so you can fill it with water. You pull it up to let the water drain while still catching the food chunks.
Why It Matters
Your strainer basket is the first line of defense for your kitchen pipes. Without it, large pieces of food would wash straight down the drain. Over time, grease and food chunks build up inside your pipes. This creates a solid blockage that stops water from draining. A clogged pipe can lead to messy backups and expensive visits from a plumber. If you want to learn more about your pipes, you can read our guide to Plumbing.
Even if you have a garbage disposal, you still need a strainer basket on the other side of a double sink. Silverware and small toys can easily slip down an open drain. If a spoon falls into your garbage disposal, it will ruin the blades the next time you turn it on. A good strainer basket keeps these hard objects out of the danger zone. It also catches coffee grounds and rice. These small items seem harmless, but they swell up with water and turn into a thick paste inside your drain lines. A broken or missing strainer basket can also let bad smells rise up from the drain. Food bits get trapped in the curves of the pipe and start to rot. Check out our guide on Smells & Odors if you notice a foul stink coming from your sink.
Types and Costs
Strainer baskets come in a few different styles and materials. Most homes have stainless steel baskets. Stainless steel lasts a long time and resists rust. You can also find plastic or silicone baskets in many colors to match your sink. Some baskets have a simple twist and drop stopper. Others use a rubber gasket that seals tight when you push it down.
Replacing just the drop in basket is very cheap. You can buy a new one at any hardware store for 5 to 15 dollars. If the entire strainer body mounted to the sink is leaking, you need a full replacement. A complete strainer assembly costs 15 to 40 dollars for the parts. If you hire a plumber to install it, expect to pay 150 to 250 dollars for the labor and materials. Keep in mind that ranges vary based on where you live and the plumber you choose. You can read more about typical prices in our guide on What Home Repairs Cost.
Maintenance and Replacement
Taking care of your strainer basket takes very little effort. You just need to empty it often and keep it clean.
- Empty the basket into the trash after every time you wash dishes.
- Scrub the basket with warm water and dish soap once a week to remove grease.
- Check the rubber seal on the bottom of the stopper. If it looks cracked or stiff, it will not hold water in the sink.
- Look for broken prongs or a loose center post. These mean it is time to buy a new basket.
Sometimes, a strainer basket gets coated in hard water stains or sticky grease. You can soak it in a bowl of white vinegar for an hour. The vinegar breaks down the mineral buildup. After it soaks, use an old toothbrush to scrub the tiny holes. Rinse it well with hot water before you put it back in the sink. If water leaks under the sink cabinet, the problem is the main strainer body. That job requires plumbers putty and a special wrench to fix.
